Sidewalk safety solutions in Get off my lawn: Billings homeowner upset at drivers rolling through his yard

A Billings homeowner is expressing frustration over repeated incidents of vehicles driving through his front yard, a problem he attributes to a sidewalk design flaw.

Sam Ouzts, residing at the corner of Rehberg Lane and Colton Boulevard, discovered fresh tire tracks across his lawn on a recent Tuesday morning, marking the latest in a series of similar occurrences over the past five years.

"My first reaction was just frustration," Ouzts shared. "It's just frustrating that it happens as often as it does."

The tracks, visible in the morning frost, heightened Ouzts' concerns about safety in a neighborhood frequented by schoolchildren.

"Through the fresh frost on the ground, it had just happened not too long ago," he noted. "It's disappointing that people don't think before they do things. That early in the morning, we have two schools in the neighborhood and there's always kids walking up and down this sidewalk."

Ouzts believes the issue stems from an irregular sidewalk design in front of his home along Rehberg Lane. Instead of a standard sidewalk with a curb, the area features what appears to be a driveway approach, potentially leading drivers to mistake it for an entry point.

"Our house was built in 1984, and I'm assuming when the land was developed and the curbs and sidewalks were put in, that initially this was supposed to be an approach for a garage," Ouzts explained.

City Council member and engineer Scott Aspenlieder acknowledged the unusual nature of the construction.

"It's a unique outlier of a situation, but it's a situation nonetheless," Aspenlieder said. "In the two years I've been on council and the 15 years I've been doing engineering work in this city, this is the most unique one that I've seen. It even struck me as really odd."

While sympathetic to Ouzts' predicament, Aspenlieder clarified that, according to city ordinance, the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and modifications falls on the homeowner.

"The sidewalks, per the Billings city ordinance, are the responsibility of the lot owner and the homeowner," he stated.

Given the potential costs associated with reconstructing the sidewalk, Ouzts is considering more affordable deterrents, such as planting a hedge.

"I've got grass cut out here because I want to put in a hedge kind of as a deterrent," he mentioned.

Aspenlieder supports this approach and recommends Ouzts consult with Public Works to ensure compliance with local codes. However, he cautioned that no physical barrier can entirely prevent reckless driving.

"The best of engineering still does not defeat bad driving," Aspenlieder remarked. "People are still going to be careless."